Saturday, 24 October 2015

It's a small blog hop this month. But that's no reason not to join in and keep hopping through for fun and inspiration. I'm heading up the hop so make sure you go on over to Tina after you're done here and keep on going from there. Full list at the end.

We were given these challenging challenges:

Challenge #1:YOUR NEXT MOVE:Do a project sharing what your next move in life is. What is a goal? What is a dream? What would you like to do if you could?

Challenge #2:3-D Project. Let's all get out of our comfort zones. No cards, layouts or mini albums.

Challenge #3:One Thing: You may use paper, photos and only ONE other thing on your project (like mist or stamping or one type of embellishment).

I went with a take on Challenge #1 and made a page about, surprise surprise, me!

As it's coming to the end of the year, I've already starting considering what changes need to be made, what can continue, what I need to stop and what path I'd like 2016 to take me. This includes thinking about what my word for the year will be. I'm still pondering that one but I do know what direction I want that word to be and where I'd like it to impact my life. I just need to pin it down a little more before I share.

This is layout #5 using my October Counterfeit kit, Woodland which has proved a lovely, soft, easy-to-use kit. I think it must have been smaller than usual, because I'm really down to scraps! I haven't had that for months and months. But that made me get creative with small pieces of paper and lots of layering.

A few little items that are a little symbolic for me. And of course, a smattering of gold.

I added sequins into my supplies because my layout needed a little something.

Several of these mini strips are the manufacturing strips off my patterned papers.

Thanks for dropping by and here's the full list. Do let me know you were here!

First up is layout #3 where I decided to pick out and pile up all the home elements to make a funky banner - again scoring a double win as this matches the Whimsical Musings WM#181 to feature banners. I wanted to record a few highlights of our home one year after moving in.

I decided to softly and a little randomly ink over a mask to give the background a bit of interest as well as spritzing some of my favourite Heidi Swapp gold mist. I really like the subtle effect this has given.

A double layered banner is one of my favourite types to do. I love all the bits and pieces that are piled up here.

This layout was driven by the little "brother" chipboard element and I'm so happy to be able to get these two favourite photos from my time in London back in July on a page and the story recorded.

And last but not least, I used the Creative Scrappers sketch #286 which I featured in the Whimsical Musings prompt WM#184 for this multi-paper layout about my niece's first creations with washi tape!

With all those paper strips, I decided that stitching over the top of them would add some definition and then I "scattered" some small word elements among the strips for added interest.

I layered up quite a few elements to the left of the photo to home my journalling which is instead of the paper strips featured in the original sketch.

Along with the additional elements I added to the kit (discussed in yesterday's post), all I needed to put into the kit was a little mist and ink, two sheets of cardstock, a tiny bit of twine and my stitching. An amazingly self-contained kit and I still have some left for another layout.

Thanks for getting this far and don't forget to come back on Saturday for the hop. Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

I know, I know! You're shocked at the sudden activity on the blog. But a busy month means that I'm late sharing the Scrapabilly makes and I want to fit that in before the Counterfeit Kit Challenge member blog hop on Saturday.

A full 12 sheets of paper from the collection are supported by matching die cuts, an alpha sticker sheet and some brads while the tags, veneer shapes and matching cardstock fill this kit out and make it feel very large indeed. I have to confess though that I also added in the chipboard shapes (here) and the matching enamels (here). You know that I can't resist the enamels and I particularly liked some of the chipboard elements and immediately knew what I would do with a few of them.

It's a great autumnal kit without being all about the leaves and nature, and with the bright reds, navy and teal added to the yellows, oranges and browns, the colour scheme makes this kit really adaptable. I really liked that the double sided papers gave me a lot of variety and the cut apart sheets proved useful so that I could really pick and choose what designs and papers I wanted to use and avoid the more cutesy motives that aren't really my style. I did find the owls particularly cute, though!

The theme of family and home activities is perfect for this time of year and I chose to go down the mostly family route with one layout that I love in particular featuring my niece and the last real dress I ever sewed - 11 years ago now. It took me hours and hours but I'm still pretty proud of the Christening Gown I made for Maddie. You can't quite see the detail in that small photo, but there's even a smattering of beading across the lace and bodice. I can't quite believe I did that now!

I added these brown Thickers letters in for this title from a previous kit and a little mist

The stitching was an after thought to be honest, adding this little line and that along the bottom after I sent the photos through to Scrapabilly. I can't believe I didn't think about stitching before. It makes perfect sense but you know how it is, sometimes you see the layouts in a new light - literally - after a night's sleep.

This little die cut frame was the perfect size for the sewing machine from the cut apart 3x4 card. One of my favourite techniques. And this means that it fulfils the Whimsical Musings prompt, WM#187 to use frames on your layout - purely coincidentally :-)

The background paper here was far too pretty to cut up so I used it in full, taking only a sliver off to back it up with cardstock. The whole of this layout was based around the chipboard "Sisters" element and it's been a long time since I featured both of these beauties on a layout so it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

I tried to make this all about the pretty and picked out as many little flower elements as I could, layering them all up with papers and a 3x4 card to make a base for the single photo.

The main design of this 3x4 card didn't quite suit what I wanted to say here so I just covered up what I didn't need to allow the "together" to shine. With so many possible cards in this kit, I wasn't afraid to cut the up or use them in an altered state. Especially useful as mats or embellishment bases. One day I might even use these cards for a pocket page album - I have plans!

Some mist was the only thing I added in for this layout. Didn't seem finished without it.

I go back to the standard stacked grid layout again and again these days as I just love it. So easy, looks so good and showcases all that lovely product. I even got the sewing machine out for this one too. After a long summer with holidays and people unavailable, we made sure to celebrate a full turnout for the first post-summer crop with ice-cream, sekt and a photo. These ladies are so much fun. I feel so privileged to be part of the group.

A day of paper crafting, film watching, snack eating and sugary drink drinking as well as being totally spoilt for 24 hours by a big hearted uncle can all be rather exciting for a little one but I'm happy to have the chance to spoil this particular sweetie from time to time with an overnight stay. Even though the papers feature the Eiffel Tower we actually completed a London mini book with lots of cute double decker buses, the main sights and this pretty face. My supply of UK themed items went down quite well and my scraps box got a good workout.

There's quite a bit left in the kit but I'm using that to finish off my Learn Something New Every Day mini which I talked about in the last post. Watch this space to see the final result. I've set myself the end of the month to get it finished as I have all the photos and notes. It feels like the 31st is coming way too fast but it might happen!

Sunday, 18 October 2015

I'm late posting my creations for the Scrapabilly September kit but I know you'll forgive me when you see how gorgeous the kit was and - even if I say it myself - what lovely layouts I made with it. Well, it was easy due to the amazing products that were in there.

But as usual, I'm getting ahead of myself so why don't I share the kit with you first - or rather the two kits.

In September, we were given the choice of one of two Simple Stories based kits - either the blue toned So Rad kit or the pink based So Fancy kit. Now, you know me well enough to know that I went for the So Fancy kit, don't you? Pinks, golds, aquas, navy and pretties. It's got my name all over it!

Lashings of papers, photo stickers, a full pack of die cuts, sticker alphabets and brads all from the So Fancy collection, Simple Stories frames and of course, cardstock and a Scrapabilly exclusive flair were included but I have to admit that I also purchased a few of the add ons just to add extra joy to my creating.

A pack of enamels (here) and the few collection papers (here) not included in the pack - all of which were cut apart sheets. I had a plan for my kit from the beginning.

But first, on to the first layout I created. With such pretty papers, how could I not make a layout about the most beautiful four nieces in the world. They get more beautiful each time I see them and there's one more beauty about to make an appearance in just a few more weeks. We can't wait to meet her and of course, there's bound to be a layout too in the weeks to come.

The full papers which included printed embellishments and gold titling were too gorgeous to cut up so I did my best to use them in a meaningful way as well as adding embellishments on top. The die cut pack, a few enamels and a hint of gold thread were all that was needed to highlight those beautiful faces. I did sneak in a tiny scrap of gold doily vellum but everything else is from the kit.

The gold elements were just too delicious not to use in their entirety.

I first did Shimelle's Learn Something New Every Day in my first year of scrapping back in 2006 and I've lurked in the background ever since. But when I saw this kit and the reminder email came through that my forever access to the class was about to hit again, I just knew that I wanted to join in. I decided to use Simple Stories ring binder album and matching divided page protectors (6x8) to make this mini even though anyone can tell you that I'm just not a mini maker! Maybe that's all changed as I loved making up my title page, the intro and the first two spreads. I am loosely following the prompts but it's more the concept that I'm using as a base for my learning each day with a month long goal which I talk about in the introduction. This may convert me back to a mini maker yet! I'll try to share the mini as I get it completed - photos and notes are made. My aim is the end of October so we'll have to see.

Last up for today is an Instagram steal of day out for two of my favourite girls in the world. Sister and niece. I just needed to capture these faces that make me smile. This is just one of those layouts that makes me happy. There's not a big story there other than the fact that this little family of three is about to become four, but it makes me happy. That's what it's all about after all.

As always, you should go and visit the Scrapabilly September gallery to see all the Design Team creations - the So Rad kit was a lot of fun so there's a good mix there of both the kits for you to peruse and be inspired by.